Hydraulic row marker system

ABSTRACT

This invention is concerned with marking devices for squadron planters with the marking devices being operated by remote hydraulic devices which are in parallel with hydraulic means used for raising and lowering the planters.

United States Patent Matthews et al.

[451 June 20, 1972 [54] HYDRAULIC ROW MARKER SYSTEM [72] inventors: Ralph W. Matthews, New Berlin; Gerald W. Bernholt, Wauwatosa; Mlchael R. Schmidt, Hales Comets, all of Wis.

Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company,

[73] Assignee:

' Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: June 18, 1970 [21 Appl. No.: 47,437

[52] U.S.Cl ..l72/128,172/130,]11/33,

172/318, 251/339 [51] Int. Cl ..A0lb 25/00, A011: 49/06, BOlc 7/18 [58] FieldofSearch ..172/l26-l30,3ll, 172/456, 313; 111/27, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Oehler et a1. ..1l1/33,

3,269,749 8/1966 Hartwig 172/313 3,356,382 12/ 1 967 Fay ..280/43.23 3,556,226 1/1971 Brewer et a1 172/130 3,454,103 7/ 1969 Krumholz 172/ l 28 3,158,204 11/1964 Martin..... ....172/l26 3,250,333 5/1966 Day ..172/l26 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-C. W. Hanor Attorney-Kenneth C. McKivett, Charles L. Schwab and Robert B. Benson [57] ABSTRACT This invention is concerned with marking devices for squadron planters with the marking devices being operated by remote hydraulic devices which are in parallel with hydraulic means used for raising and lowering the planters.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SHEET 30F 5 I 5 J 5 9min A Pm/Q I26 IO LEFT HAND MARKER RAM ww L? W R E K DA A M D N A H T. M pm A P m D M O R U T D- 6 M M U M D O N T A O H F0 W m7, 9'. 2 4

P'A'TENTEflJuuzo me HYDRAULIC ROW MARKER SYSTEM This invention is concerned with an automatic row marker system for planters.

As planters have increased in size, the present mechanical row marker lift system has become inadequate. Row marker arms have. become long, heavy and difficult to control mechanically.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an automatic row marker lift system which fulfills the following requirements:

I. Allows the operator to raise whichever marker is down when at the end of the field.

2. Rate of lift should be as fast as possible, but without excessive acceleration forces.

3. Automatically lowers the marker that was in. the raise position during the previous planting pass after the planters are lowered for the next pass.

4. Rate of lowering should be as fast possible, but controlled to prevent damage to marker.

5. Operator can raise the marker and planter to clear a waterway and still lower the same marker that was down.

6. Operator can raise and lower a marker to clear anobstacle without raising planters.

7. Provide a system which will function on a squadron hitch planter pulled by a tractor and with only two remote valves.

8. Provide a system that is reliable and inexpensive.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of two six row planters connected by a squadron hitch and showing the hydraulic circuit embodying the invention;

7 FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of themachine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation view of the valve, ram and associated operating mechanism shown in Flg. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the parts shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view. of the operating mechanism for the marker ram valve; y FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the parts shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the marker ram valve taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, with the operating mechanism not shown; and a FIG. 9 is a cross section view taken on line IXIX of FIG.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, particularly to FIG. 1, it is seen that reference numeral [0 refers to a planter as a whole which is made up of two separable six row planters l1 and 12 which are substantially identical. Planter 11 includes a generally rectangular frame 13 which is made up of transverse tool bars 14, 16 and 17 and end channels 18 and 19. A series of planter units 20 are attached to tool bar 17. The planter frame 13 is supported by ground wheels 21 and 22 and includes a forwardly extending hitch or draft bar 23 carried by tool bar 14. Planter 12 is provided with a draft bar 24 identical to the draft bar 23 on planter 11 and these draft bars are pivotally connected to a hitch bar 25 which is supported at its rear end on wheels 26 and is provided at its front end with a triangular frame structure 27 having its apex 28 attached to a drawbar 29 of tractor 31 to provide a squadron hitch.

Referring to FIG. 2, a marker arm support 32 is attached to the Ieft-hand rear corner of the frame 13 of planter 11..The lower end of support 32 pivotally mounts a marker arm structure 33 for movement about a longitudinal axis.

Marker arm structure 33 is additionally supported by a diagonal brace 34 (see FIG. 1) which has its inner end pivotally mounted to the planter frame member 18 by means of a bracket 36 and its outer end secured to the marker arm 33 by a clamp member 37. The marker arm structure 33 is longitudinally adjustable being constructed of two sections 38 and 39 arranged in telescopic relation. The inboard section 38 is provided with suitable clamps (not shown) by which the outer section 39 is adjustably secured therewith. Ground engaging marking. elements such as disks 41 are rotatably mounted in the outer end of marker arm 33 in a conventional:

manner. The upper end of marker arm support 32 rotatably mounts a sheave 42 (see FIG. 2).

Planter 10 is equipped with a power lift including a wheel arm 43 pivotally connected to a mounting bracket which is secured to the planter frame rear tool bar 17 by conventional means. The wheel arm 43 is actuated about its pivot axis46 (see FIG. 3) by means of a hydraulic ram 47. The base portion 48 of the ram 47 is pivotally mounted on a pin 49 located in the upper portion of the mounting bracket 44. The rod end 51 of the ram 47 is pivotally connected to the wheel arm 43 by means of a pin 52 carried on a bracket 53 extending from the arm 43. The pin 52 extends laterally outward from the rod end 51 of the ram 47 and pivotally supports a turned over portion of rod 54 which has a midportion which passes through an opening 55 (see FIG. 4) in a strap 56. A shaft 57, journaled in a plate carried by ram 47, pivotally supports strap and plate 58. Strap 56is biased to the position shown in FIG. 4 by means of a spring 59 which is connected at one end to another plate 61. A stop member 62 is provided on plate 58 to limit the clockwise movement of strap 56. The other end of spring 59 is attached to one end of a line 63 which is wrapped around a drum member 64 (see FIG. 6) and attached thereto by clamp 66 and set screw 67. Drum member 634 is mounted on a shaft 68 for relative rotation and drum member 64 has its left-hand end joined with disk member 69 as by means of a press fit. The other end of line 63 is attached by conventional means to the left-hand end of strap 56 as is shown in FIG. 4.

One end of a latch member 71 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) is mounted for pivotal movement aboutpin 72 carried by disk 69. The other end of latch member 71 is connected to one end of spring 73 which is attached at its other end to disk 69. Latch member 71 is provided with a curved midportion 74 which is configured complementary to a pin 75 carried by disk 76 whichis attached to a bushing 77 as by a press fit. Bushing 77 is attached to shaft 68 as by means of set screw 78. A pin 79 is also attached to disk 76 positioned 180 from pin 75. Disk 76 is provided with two openings therein 81 and 82 spaced 180 apart which cooperatewith a detent mechanism includinga ball' 83 spring loaded by spring 84 received in housing 86. Housing 86 rotatably receives shaft 68 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and hydraulic. seals 85'are provided in housing 86 coacting with shaft 68 to prevent a loss of hydraulic fluid. A midportion of shaft 68 is configured to provide a cam 87 which is positioned in a passage 88 extending from one side of the housing to the other as shown in FIG. 9 atright angles to shaft 68. A ball 89 biased by spring 91 blocks the right-hand portion of passage 88. Another'ball 92 is positioned in passage 88 7 ball 93 in turn contacts ball 94 moving same against the bias of passage 88 and is blocked at its upper end by threaded member 98. A transversely extending passage 99 leading to sump 101 connects with a midportion of passage 97. An additional pair of vertical passages 102 and 103 extend from passage 99 downwardly around grooves 104 and 105, respectively, in shaft 68 to provide a return to sump for any hydraulic fluid which might leak around shaft 68. Passage 97 is provided at its upper end with a transverse passage 106 (see FIG. 9) which is connected to pump 107 for providing hydraulic fluid thereto.

Passage 97 is" provided with a spring loaded flow control valve 108 which will move downwardly when excess pressure is experienced until passage 106 is connected with passage 99 through passage 97 thereby permitting some of the pressure fluid from pump 107-to return to sump 10].

Valve 108 is provided with a central orifice for limiting the rate of flow of pressure fluid and thereby assuring that the row markers will not be raised at an excessive rate.

Referring to FIG. 2 a hand operated latch 109 is mounted.

on the upper end of support member 32. The purpose of this latch is to maintain marker in a raised position during transport or storage. One end of a chain 111 is attached to marker arm 33 and extends over sheave 42 around sheave 112 mounted on arm 113 and the other end of chain 111 is attached to member 32. The lower end of arm 113 is pivotally attached to strap 114 depending from transverse frame member 116 supported from frame member 17 by member 32 and member 117.

A hydraulic cylinder 118 has its barrel end 119 pivotally attached to flange 121 carried by member 32 and the piston end 122 is pivotally attached to a pin 123 carried by member 113. A hydraulic line 124 connects the cylinder end 119 of ram 118 with housing 86 where it joins with one end of passage 88. The other end of passage 88 (see FIG. 9) is provided with a flexible hydraulic line 126 connecting same to a hydraulic cylinder 127 (see FIG. 1) operatively connected to a marker mechanism 128 carried by planter unit 12 and which marker mechanism is substantially the same as marker mechanism 33.

Referring to FIG. 1 it is seen that pump 107 is hydraulically connected to master cylinder 47 of planter unit 11 and to master cylinder 129 (and comprising a first hydraulic means) of planter unit 12 by means of hydraulic lines 131 and 132 respectively. Master cylinders 47 and 129 are connected by hydraulic lines 133 and 134, respectively, to slave cylinders 136 and 137. Pump 107 is also connected to passage 106 (see FIG. 9) in housing 86 by means of hydraulic line 138. Passage 99 of housing 86 is connected to sump 101 by hydraulic line 139 (see FIG. 8).

It is to be understood that the pump 107 and sump 101 would normally be mounted on tractor 31 as well as a conventional lift valve V which is interposed in the output line 138 of pump 107 so that the output of pump 107 can be diverted to sump along with the fluid in line 138 and if desired valve V may be positioned to block lines 131 and 138.

The operation of the previously described planter is as follows:

Assume that a field is being planted as shown in FIG. 1 with the left-hand row marker 33 in marking position with the right-hand row marker 128 in elevated position and an obstruction in the path of the down row marker is observed, it is then desired to raise the down row marker without raising the planters from operative position. The operator would shift valve V to a lift position and because pressure requirement for hydraulic cylinder 118 (comprising a second hydraulic means) is lower than for hydraulic lift cylinders 47, 136, 137 and 129 hydraulic cylinder 118 will start lifting before the lift enumerated cylinders start. When the row marker has been lifted to a desired height, valve V may now be placed on hold and the row marker will be maintained at this height, without the planter units having been raised, until the obstruction has been passed at which time valve V would be placed in float position and row marker 33 would descend to operative marking position. Another way of explaining this operation is that the operator would place valve V in a lift position whereupon pressure fluid from pump 107 would enter lines 131, 132 and 138. The pressure fluid in line 138 would pass through passage 106 in housing 86, (see FIG. 9) orifice 105 and passage 97 past ball 89 and enter into line 124 and hydraulic ram 118 causing ram 1 18 to extend and raise marker 33 a height sufficient to clear the obstruction. Thereupon a shift of valve V to hold position, marker 33 will remain at the height obtained without the planters 11 and 12 having been raised. Then when the obstruction is passed valve V will be shifted to float posi tion and hydraulic fluid will move from hydraulic ram 118, through line 124, around check ball 89, through orifice 105, to sump 101 through line 139. It should be noted that the clearance between ball 89 and the coacting wall of passage 88 determine the rate at which marker 33 will descend. Marker 128 remains in its raised or upright position with ball 94 under the pressure of spring 96 and the fluid trapped, coacting with adjacent portions of passage 88 to keep marker 128 raised. The same marker 33 which was down goes back down into operating position.

' Assume that a field is being planted as shown in FIG. 1 and that the end of the field is reached, the operator would then move valve V to the raise position, marker arm 33 would first extend to its raised position, next the fluid pressure builds up in hydraulic cylinders 47 and 129 which in turn transmit such pressure to slave cylinders 136 and 137, respectively resulting in a raising of planters 11 and 12 with the expansion of the pistons of the aforementioned cylinders. As the planters move upwardly, lost motion member 54 (FIG. 2) slides downwardly through opening 55 in strap 56 until the enlarged end of 54 contacts strap 56 moving it counterclockwise about pivot 57. This movement of strap 56 exerts a pull of line 63 against the bias of spring 59 resulting in a counterclockwise movement of drum 64 and disk 69 which is attached thereto. Also moving with disk 69 is latch 71 (FIG. 6 and 7) which is in contact with latch pin 75 and moves same counterclockwise. Pin 75 is carried by disk 76 which is attached to shaft 68 so movement of pin 75 causes a like movement of disk 76 and shaft 68. Disk 76 is ordinarily retained in its position relative to housing 86 by means of a detent ball 83 which is spring biased into recess 81 in disk 76. When disk 76 is rotated by line 63 the detent mechanism is overcome and disk 76 is rotated 180 until detent ball 83 moves into recess 82. When disk 76 is rotated l shaft 68 also rotates the same amount and cam 87 on shaft 68 is also rotated so that cam 87 (FIGS. 8 and 9) now actuates ball 92 to move check ball 89 out of contact with the walls of passage 88. Now the operator has his planter and tractor in position for a return trip across the field. He turns valve V to float position and the fluid in the lift cylinders return to sump as well as the fluid in the right-hand marker ram 127 (comprising a third hydraulic means). The left-hand marker ram 118 retains marker 33 in elevated position as the right-hand marker 128 moves to operative position.

Upon a lowering movement of the lift cylinders, returning the planters l1 and 12 to planting positions, as the lost motion rod 54 moves upwardly, strip 56 follows the rod upwardly under the bias of spring 59 which exerts a pull on line 63 rotating drum 69 in a clockwise direction returning latch 71 to the position shown in FIG. 7. In this returning process member 71 pivots against the bias of spring 73 when it contacts stop 79 and comes to rest with portion 74 partially surrounding stop 79 in position to cycle 180 when the lost motion mechanism 54 is again actuated. The return movement of a strap 56 is limited by stop member 62 (see FIG. 4). Thus it is seen that the markers have been reversed by raising the planter units to their extreme raised position.

If desired the operator can raise the planter units and the row markers upon seeing an obstruction and when the obstruction is passed the units can be lowered and the same marker that was marking will again be in marking position. This is accomplished by the operator actuating the lift valve V to raise the units and the down marker. When the units and marker have been raised sufiiciently to clear the obstruction then the operator moves valve V to hold position. The planter is then moved forward until the obstruction is cleared at which time the operator moves the valve V to float position. The planter units return to planting height and the planter marker which formerly was down will again be down unless the operator was forced to raise the units to their extreme raised position wherein lost motion member 54 would have reversed the control mechanism for the row markers.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination in a farm implement including a frame, a wheel structure pivotally attached to said frame for supporting same, a first hydraulic means for raising said implement to a mid inoperative position and a final inoperative position by lowering said wheel structure relative to said frame, row markers pivotally attached to opposite sides of said frame for alternate operation with one marker in lowered operative position and the other marker in raised inoperative position, a second and third hydraulic means for raising said row markers to inoperative position, hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connecting said first in parallel with said second and third hydraulic means, said second and third hydraulic means having a hydraulic pressure requirement for actuation lower than the pressure requirement of said first hydraulic means so that operation of said second or third hydraulic means occurs prior to operation of said first hydraulic means, and control means operative in response to said implement reaching said final inoperative position for reversing said row markers so that said one market is held up in its inoperative position and said other marker is lowered to operative position, said control means including a lost motion mechanism actuated by said first hydraulic means in response to said implement being raised to said final inoperative position, said control means also including a flow control valve combined with a pair of check valves hydraulically connected to said second and third hydraulic means, a rotatable shah having a cam thereon positioned between said check valves and being rotatable responsive to movement of said lost motion mechanism for said cam alternately moving said check valves to alternately control said second or third hydraulic means.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 and wherein said flow control valve includes means for controlling the rate of raising of said markers.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 and wherein said check valves control the rate of lowering of said markers.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 and wherein said check valves control the rate of lowering of said markers assisted by apertures in said flow control valve for controlling the rate of raising the markers.

I II i l l 

1. In combination in a farm implement including a frame, a wheel structure pivotally attached to said frame for supporting same, a first hydraulic means for raising said implement to a mid inoperative position and a final inoperative position by lowering said wheel structure relative to said frame, row markers pivotally attached to opposite sides of said frame for alternate operation with one marker in lowered operative position and the other marker in raised inoperative position, a second and third hydraulic means for raising said row markers to inoperative position, hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connecting said first in parallel with said second and third hydraulic means, said second and third hydraulic means having a hydraulic pressure requirement for actuation lower than the pressure requirement of said first hydraulic means so that operation of said second or third hydraulic means occurs prior to operation of said first hydraulic means, and control means operative in response to said implement reaching said final inoperative position for reversing said row markers so that said one marker is held up in its inoperative position and said other marker is lowered to operative position, said control means including a lost motion mechanism actuated by said first hydraulic means in response to said implement being raised to said final inoperative position, said control means also including a flow control valve combined with a pair of check valves hydraulically connected to said second and third hydraulic means, a rotatable shaft having a cam thereon positioned between said check valves and being rotatable responsive to movement of said lost motion mechanism for said cam alternately moving said check valves to alternately control said second or third hydraulic means.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 and wherein said flow control valve includes means for controlling the rate of raising of said markers.
 3. The combination recited in claim 1 and wherein said check valves control the rate of lowering of said markers.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3 and wherein said check valves control the rate of lowering of said markers assisted by apertures in said flow control valve for controlling the rate of raising the markers. 